Denise O’Sullivan wants a performance, a result and then she can enjoy her homecoming

While the Cork contingent in the Republic of Ireland squad counts down to their homecoming at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, the focus is still on getting a result against France and boosting their chances of qualifying for Euro 2025 through the play-offs.

Denise O’Sullivan sent out this message, on the eve of the first ever competitive soccer match at the home of Cork GAA.

The Ireland centurion is solely focused on taking on a France team which reached the quarter finals of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, with one of the best squads on the planet.

Les Bleues have one of the most talented rosters on the continent available to them, and they used it to book their place at Euro 2025 in Switzerland last Friday evening.

The Girls in Green know what France can do when they are on form, they were well beaten in Metz at the start of the qualifying campaign.

“I’m excited – we’re playing against world class opposition, one after the other, but I think it stands to us,” O’Sullivan told Off The Ball.

“Those are massively important games. They are always a challenge so we are always growing and learning with this team. 

“Look, it is going to be a difficult game but we’re going to go in with a positive mindset and we’ll try and get on the score-sheet again because that would be huge for us.” 

One question surrounding the fixture is who will wear the captain’s armband on Tuesday?

O’Sullivan was the team’s on the pitch leader last Friday, during a 2-1 defeat to England at Carrow Road, but she was only a stand-in as Katie McCabe was suspended.

The full-back will be back for the game with France, and the expectation is that the Dubliner will wear the armband at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Despite this, O’Sullivan is proud to have captained her country against the reigning European championship.

“Unbelievable – I can’t describe it really, it is such an hour” she talked about wearing the armband in such a huge fixture.

“Every time I put on the green shirt it means a lot to me. 

“Of course, captaining the side is something that I’ve always dreamed of. Walking out, I was got a bit emotional standing there with the national anthem and singing it, looking at my mam and boyfriend getting to see me captain the team. It is something I’ve always dreamt of. 

“To step in and do that, with the leaders we do have in the squad. For Eileen (Gleason) to do that, to pick me to replace Katie, was very good.

“I don’t think so – I’m good now, I got to do it tonight,” she talked about wearing the armband on Tuesday night. 

“We’ll have her back for Tuesday. No matter what, I’ll be excited to play in Cork in front of the fans. But as I said, there’s plenty of leaders in this team who steps up. I’m really excited.”

What the team now need are goals as they want to ensure seeding when the draw is made for the Euro 2025 play-offs. 

Ireland are locked in a mini-competition with Poland and goal-difference could decide who has a more favourable path to Switzerland.

Julie-Ann Russell hit the back of the net against England, and that could be crucial at the end of the campaign.

“It was a vitally important goal for us with the play-offs in terms of where we stand and it was great to see Jules to score, every time you score a goal for Ireland it is massively important and I was delighted for her,” O’Sullivan said.